While the polls are still proceeding it would be most
unwise to attempt any forecast of how the political situation will develop. Such speculations can well wait for another week. Of one thing, however, we are sure. The Constitu- tional Party is not going to act unconstitutionally, or to set an example of Jacobin tactics which its opponents would be only too glad to follow. The Unionist leaders have hitherto kept within their Constitutional rights, and they may be relied upon to continue to do so. We may further point out that though their position in regard to the Veto Bill is improved, the Government are in reality almost as much disappointed by the elections as their opponents. It is all very well to talk about a majority of 120, but when that majority is composed of notoriously heterogeneous elements, the Parliamentary future is bound to be dark and precarious. It must never be forgotten that in order to retain office with any feeling of comfort and security, a Government needs not merely majorities for its one or two big measures, but support upon which it can rely from day to day and hour to hour. For such support a homogeneous majority is requisite. This need is no doubt not likely to be felt so much in the first Session, but we venture to say that after the new House of Commons has been sitting for a year or eighteen months, it will become very real indeed.
